Department: Strategy Delivery Office
Fixed Term Contract: 8 months
Part Time: 29.6 hours per week (0.8fte)
Start date: January 2027
Salary: Competitive
About this role
This is a role for a senior leader who combines strategic insight with delivery focus, can navigate complexity across a multi-stakeholder institution, and can build the systems, behaviours and discipline required for successful strategy execution.
The role will lead the Strategy Delivery Office and translate the new University strategy into clear priorities, measurable outcomes and coordinated delivery plans. It will ensure that planning, governance, risk, strategic performance insight and transformation activity operate as a coherent institutional framework.
The role will support the Senior Leadership Team and Board of Governors with high-quality analysis, programme oversight, assurance and decision support. The postholder will strengthen the University’s ability to deliver strategic change at pace while maintaining clarity, accountability and institutional grip.
The intention is for this role to commence on a fixed term basis for 8 months after which a full assessment will be made as to the University’s needs going forward.
The Job Specification outlines the full responsibilities of the role, but it is intended that the Interim Director will initially focus on the following key areas of work:
- Strategy 2032: Strategic delivery planning, institutional priorities, roadmaps and phased implementation plan for 3 major programmes. Click here to view ‘Strategy 2032’.
- Strategic Development Office: Establishing the function, delivery frameworks, project governance and institutional transformation capability.
- Operational Planning and Strategic Investment:
- Integrated 2027/28 planning cycle, aligning strategy themes and resource allocation, academic workload, academic portfolio, student number planning, estate utilisation and financial integration.
- Investment prioritisation, business case development and Strategic Investment Fund arrangements.
- Institutional Performance and Risk: KPI framework, institutional targets, performance reporting and strategic risk management. Maintain and continue revised, streamlined Risk approach and SMT engagement on mitigations.
- Estates – Utilisation & Strategy: Estates Strategy development, space requirements, campus review and future estate and investment planning. This work is interlinked to a Timetabling Review.
- Management of strategic and commercially sensitive projects.
- Oversight of key changes in statutory reporting to OfS: Modernisation of data architecture (to SQL); dashboard development (recruitment and RAM are the priorities); movement towards data lake; full migration to new Qlik product.
About you
This post requires a senior leader with significant experience of strategic planning, performance, transformation and PMO, ideally from within Higher Education or a closely aligned area. In a multi-stakeholder and regulated environment, the postholder will develop and deliver plans and programmes to support the University’s new strategy and bring expertise and insight into governance, transformation practices and management of strategic risk. This will require a mix of clear and strong leadership, developed analytical and interpretive skills along with proven negotiation and influencing skills, and the ability to navigate complexity and operate in a multi-faceted organisation.
In addition to your salary we offer a competitive reward package with a range of staff benefits and discounts which include:
- A flexible defined contribution pension scheme via Aviva Master Trust (FlexHE).
- Generous holiday allowance of 30 days pro rata with bank holidays too and an occupational sickness scheme.
- On-site gym at our Chichester campus.
- 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme to support our staff.
- Extensive personal / professional training opportunities throughout the year.
- Cycle to work, Season Ticket Loan and Electric Vehicle schemes.
- Bus travel for staff between our Bognor Regis and Chichester campuses and Chichester town centre.
To apply, please complete our online application form and upload a copy of your CV. Informal enquiries are welcomed by Olivia McLaughlin, Chief Operating Officer & University Secretary, via Executive Officer, Melissa Francis m.francis@chi.ac.uk.
- Closing Date: 18 November 2026
- Interview Date: To be confirmed
You can view further details about the role in the attached job profile.
Prior to submitting your job application kindly ensure you can demonstrate or obtain the necessary right to work in the UK.
All new external appointments are employed by Chichester Staff Services Ltd (CSSL). Internal appointments remain with their existing employer.
If you require any support with completing your application, please contact the recruitment team; staffrecruitment@chi.ac.uk
We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion at every level because we believe a diverse workforce benefits us all.
